In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1899) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1822
From Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and bio (1887), The Biographical record of McLean County, Illinois (1899)
JAMES H. COX, who has retired from an active business career, has resided in this county for upwards of thirty-six years. He is now living at Hudson, where he is highly respected. He was born at Norway, Oxford Co., Me., April 21, 1822. His grandfather, William Cox, was a native of Wales, and our subject's father, William Cox, Jr., was born in Massachusetts, and was a merchant by vocation, and as such, met with signal success. He died in Oxford County, Me., in the seventy-second year of his life, having done business there for many years. Elizabeth (Phipps) Cox, our subject's mother, was born at Chatham, N. H., and there lived until her marriage. She also died in Oxford County, Me., and was seventy-two years old at the date of her demise. Fourteen children were born of the union of our subject's parents, twelve of whom grew to attain the age of man and womanhood, and six are living at the present writing, namely: Caroline E., widow of Capt. W. A. Sweetzer, resides at Boston; Mary, widow of A. Sweetzer, is a resident of Bloomington; William is a farmer by calling, and a resident of Oxford County, Me.; Samuel P. resides in Bloomington; Rowena C. became the wife of C. A. Noies, and they are living in Boston, Mass.
The subject of this notice was the twelfth child born to his parents, and next to the youngest of those now living. He received his education in the common schools, and during his early life worked on his father's farm, preferring such labor rather than clerking in his father's store. In 1851 Mr. Cox came to Bloomington where some of the family had previously made a settlement. His intention at that time was to purchase land and engage in farming, but, in accordance with the advice of his brothers, he abandoned his plans and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Hudson. That place was then without a store, and Mr. Cox purchased an empty building in the village, which had been previously occupied by an unsuccessful merchant, and in it placed a stock of general merchandise and was the only merchant in that place for several years. His motto was " never spend more than you earn," and by fair and honest dealing he soon established a well-paying business. He soon associated his sons with himself, and continued in active business until Jan. 1, 1885. Being of a nervous temperament, our subject found that it was impossible for him to be idle after he had turned his business over to his sons, and soon thereafter established a large apiary, to which he attends for his own amusement, more than the profit he derives therefrom, although the latter is not insignificant. The home of our subject is one of the most pleasant within the boundary of McLean County, and it is a great comfort to Mr. Cox to know that his children have all grown up and occupy honorable positions in the busy world, and are well-to-do financially.
In early life Mr. Cox was an old-line Whig, and continued to vote for the success of that party until 1856, when the Republican party sprang into existence, since which time he has voted and worked for its success. For almost thirty years he held the position of Postmaster at Hudson. He was also the first Supervisor of Hudson Township, and was the incumbent of that office for several terms. Religiously he is a Baptist and has been a Deacon in a congregation of that denomination at Hudson, for over thirty years, and has also done good work in the Sundaj'-school.
Feb. 5, 1846, at Waterford, Me., the marriage of our subject with Miss Mary Chadbourn was solemnized. She was born in Oxford County, Me., Oct. 16, 1824, and is the daughter of James and Mercy (Scribner) Chadbourn. Their union has been best by the birth of five children: Charles E., Flora S., wife of J. W. Aldrich, and Nettie, wife of Rev. F. M. Smith, a resident of St. James, Minn., and Harry W. and Herbert M., twins. For over forty-one years Mr. and Mrs. Cox have lived together as man and wife. Together they have toiled and struggled, always lending an attentive ear to true charity, and doing their part toward the advancement of the cause of the Master. Now in their old age they are enabled to pass their lives in peace and quiet, and in the enjoyment of a competency earned through 3fears of honest toil, and, looking back over the record of the history of their lives, none can point to pages darkened with deeds of unkindness or wrong to their fellowmen. Accompanying this brief personal history, we present the portrait of Mr. Cox, as that of a leading and representative man of the county.
As printed in Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and bio (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JAMES H. COX. There is probably no man in Hudson who has done more for its commercial interests and its growth and development than the gentleman whose name heads this review. Without vain display he has moved on the even tenor of his way and left his mark on almost everything which has advanced the interests of the village. After years of active business, he is now practically living retired, enjoying the rest which he has so well earned and richly deserves.
Mr. Cox was born in Norway, Oxford county, Maine, April 21, 1822, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Phipps) Cox, natives of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, respectively. At an early day the father removed with his parents from Old Plymouth to Chatham, New Hampshire, where he was married and continued to engage in farming for some time. He then removed to Norway, Maine, where he conducted a mercantile business until his death, which occurred about 1850, when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife survived him ten years and also died at the age of seventy-two. Of the fourteen children born to this worthy couple, the eldest died in infancy, and the youngest at the age of seven years, while the others reached years of maturity and were as follows; Abraham J., a prominent politician of Albany, New York; Thomas J., a merchant of Dixfield, Maine; William, Jr., who remained on the old home farm in Maine; Samuel, who came to Mc- Lean county, Illinois, in 1836, and after living for a time in Hudson township, removed to Bloomington, where he conducted a gristmill; George, a farmer of Hudson township; Edwin, who taught school for many years in Illinois and died in Fayette county; James H., our subject; Caroline, wife of Captain William E. Sweetsir, of Boston, Massachusetts, a sea captain who was engaged in the West India trade; Mary A., wife of Ammi P. Sweetsir, of Portland, Maine, a brother of the captain, who later came to Illinois and engaged in milling in Bloomington; Louisa, wife of Dr. Harris, of New Hampshire; Eva, who first married
Leonard Brown, of Maine, and after his. death came to Illinois, where she married William Mathews, now one of the old citizens of Bloomington; Rowena, who married Claudius Noyes, of Boston, Massachusetts. With the exception of our subject and Mrs. Noyes, all are now deceased.
At his birthplace James H. Cox grew to manhood, his beng youth spent upon the farm as he preferred out door life to the confinement of the store and his father had extensive landed possessions on each side of the village. Our subject obtained a good practical education in the village schools and soon after attaining his majority embarked in the mercantile business with his brother-inlaw, Lenord Brown, at Welchville, Oxford county, Maine, where they conducted a store for two years or until the death of the latter. Mr. Cox then returned his stock of goods to Newry Corners, the same county — a little village at the juncture of the Androscoggin and Bear rivers, where he was engaged in business for three years. He then purchased a farm atWaterford, Maine and followed agricultural pursuits at that place for two years.
On selling out in the fall of 1831, Mr. Cox came to McLean county, Illinois, and spent the first winter at Bloomington in the employ of A. M. Mathews. In the spring of 1852 he concluded to engage in business at Hudson and accordingly started a general store at that place. He soon succeeded in building up a good trade, his patrons coming from twenty-five to fifty miles in every direction. For some years he gave his entire attention to that business and met with most excellent success. When his sons became old enough to take charge of the same, he retired and it is now carried on by them. For some time he was also interested in the grain and drug business in company with his son Charles E. Cox, and his son-in-law, John W. Aldrich. He has been actively identified with the improvement and development of the town and has built two store buildings. His first residence here was burned in 1860 before being completed and upon the same site was erected his present home, which is one the best and most substantial in the village.
On the 6th of February, 1846, Mr. Cox was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Chadbourn, a daughter of James and Mercy (Scribner) Chadbourn, natives of Maine. She was born in Harrison, that state, October 6, 1825, but during her childhood was taken to Waterford, Maine, where she was reared. Her father, who was known as Colonel Chadbourn, served with that rank in the state militia and throughout the greater part of his life followed farming through the summer months and engaged in logging during the winter in the pine timber lands of Maine, his native state. He was born in Gorham, January 23, 1795, and died in Waterford early in the '50s. His wife was born in 1800, and died October 26, 1873. Mr. Cox has been called upon the loss of his estimable wife who died December 22, 1891. To them were born five children as follows: Charles E., born September 25, 1848, was for several years connected with his father in business to Hudson, as a grain dealer, but now follows farming at Vandalia, Illinois; Flora, born June 5, 1850, is the wife of John W., Aidrich, president of the First National Bank of Normal, where they make their home; Nettie C, born December 6, 1856, is the wife of Rev. Francis M. Smith, now pastor of the Baptist church at Marion, Iowa; and Harry W. and Herbert M., twins, born
July 17, i86r, conducted the store formerly owned by their father until the spring of 1899, when they dissolved partnership and are now alone in business.
In his political views, Mr. Cox has always been a stanch Republican and was the first supervisor of Hudson township, in which capacity he most acceptably served for several terms. Soon after embarking in business at Hudson, he was appointed postmaster and held that office until the election of President Cleveland. He has also taken an active part in educational affairs and for many years was a most efficient member of the school board. He is an active and prominent member of the Baptist church of Hudson, which he assisted in organizing, in which he has served as deacon for forty years, and also as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. He is deeply interested, as he always has been, in public affairs and the good of his community where he has so long resided, and it is safe to say that no man in the community is held in higher regard or has more warm friends than James H. Cox.
As printed in The Biographical record of McLean County, Illinois (1899). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: W. A. (b. 1826) William Cox
The printed record stops around 1887. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.